© Systemic approach to Leadership Practice - A Joint Venture between Public and Private Sector Focusing on: Strategic Work from a Systemic Approach Carsten Jørgensen, The Danish School of Public Administration Eva Korntved, MacMann Berg Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© Plan for the Workshop 1.Lectures – our presentations 2.Organizing plenary contributions 3.Shared reflections Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© The Client: A public sector company with a vision: Implementation of a systemic approach throughout the organisation leading to a leadership program, based on the systemic approach. Provided by a joint venture (MMB and DFH (DSPA)) The company: employees managers and deputies Organised as a central government, a district government and decentralized institutions Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole The Program 300 decentralized leaders have participated in the program, 13 days with systemic training and theory.

© The Development of Environment – Society - two approaches: Rational approach : Common basic values and cohesiveness Controlled speed Community Increased level of education Stable environments Predictability Systemic approach : Differentiation Fragmentation Increasing speed Individualisation Increased level of education Permanent change Unpredictability Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© The organisation is observed Rational approach A hierarchically organized division of labour where tasks are placed and executed Structures and results (outputs) are important Systemic approach A system of communications in which tasks are carried out on a cross. Sensemaking, meta reflection (input) and results (outputs) are important Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© The task of management is characterized by Rational approach An overview of economics, management and documentation systems for overall knowing what is going on in the organisation. Belief in the rational paradigm and the strategic planning. Systemic approach Choice of relevant behaviour, including the interpretation of economic management and documentation systems to improve core services Experience in the systemic thinking and constructing the world. Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© Communication is observed as Rational approach Linearly transparent messages – strategic communication The transmitter – the leader – a centralized system is the most important Systemic approach Dialogical reflective construction of sensemaking The receiver – the other – a decentralized system is the most important Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© Strategic Work from a Systemic Approach an Epistemological Model Speech Act Implicative forces Contextual forces Implicative and Contextual Forces The Surrounding World The Political System System Management: Organisational Legitimacy Vision, Mission, Strategy, Goals, Company Values etc. Direct leadership: Operation Employees Customers – children – citizens etc. Discourses Bottom line – financial situation and core product on system level Core product - On individual level E.g. Political/ administrative/ department E. g. Schools, kindergartens Etc Comprehension and implementation of strategy Establishment of linguistic links Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© Strategic Work From a Systemic Approach Vision Work and Strategic Work in Three Phases: Analyse - Generating Insight by Creating View (Out Sight) - The Surrounding World Development Implementation Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© Strategic Work From a Systemic Approach Intention: Clarification Intention: Development Future Past - Present Situational- Clarifying Questions Initiative Clarifying Questions Genererating Questions Expanding Questions 1.Step one in Building the Vision: Set your Company Dreams Free By Back Casting 0. Clarifying the Context Does an organisational Mission and Vision already exist? Do we wish to create an organisational Vision? In what view? 2. Contextual Inquiry – clarifying situation based on past and present 3. Give voice to the most important stake holders to generate suitable linguistic links 4. Make any further analyses necessary to decision making. Begin the projects Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© Strategic Work From a Systemic Approach The Vision: The intentional purpose: To provide perspective and hereby, continuously sustain motivation to suitable change in the organisation and secure the legitimacy of the organisation. Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© Strategic Work From a Systemic Approach The Linguistic links We seek suitable links throughout the system A suitable link is a speech act doing work of interpretation between the context layers. The links point in all directions Continuity is created by linguistic links The purpose is to expand the bottleneck by good links to ensure and sustain suitable communication, both vertical and horizontal. Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© Strategic Work From a Systemic Approach Discourses: - From the figure: The top: Bottom - line discourse - The bottom: Core Product discourse The discourses don’t communicate, but by suitable links we can clarify and co-ordinate meaning and understanding to enable us to work with the different discourses. New positions can invite in new prospects and generate new actions Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole

© Strategic Work From a Systemic Approach Interview in groups of three focusing on strategy processes Tell about the most successful strategic process you have been a part of? How was it successful? What did you do? What were the most important suitable links you created? What would your employees tell about the process How would they describe the linguistic links? What stories would your colleagues tell What would be your most important focus in the next strategic process you are in charge of or part in? Danmarks Forvaltningshøjskole